Paramedic grads honored

LMC hosted ceremony for programÂ?s first participants.

LMC hosted ceremony for programÂ?s first participants.

November 03, 2008

BENTON HARBOR -- Lake Michigan College recently hosted a graduation ceremony at its M-TEC facility for the 13 participants in a paramedic training program.

This class is the first to participate in the Regional Healthcare Initiative program offered in partnership with Michigan Works, Medic 1 Ambulance and LMC. The program was made possible through a portion of the U.S. Department of Labor Job Training Grant that Michigan Works received for capacity building funds to develop new teaching techniques, purchase equipment and provide professional development to healthcare workers.

The LMC program offers advanced training to basic emergency medical technicians (EMTs) for them to advance to paramedic certification. Instruction was provided by a Medic 1 Ambulance certified and trained paramedic instructor.

The graduates were Mary Spaulding, Benton Harbor; Chad Bartalone and Gordon Cartwright, both of Coloma; Janis Gaikis, Decatur; Frank Kuiken, Dowagiac; Robert Patterson, Michiana; Joseph Wright, Kristin Clapsaddle and Robert Shepherd, all of St. Joseph; Brandi Narregan, Sawyer; Andre Ruth and Jennifer, both of Stevensville; and Jessy Peterson, Watervliet.

Â?We are excited about the opportunity to partner with these two organizations in order to grow the number of health care workers in our communities,Â? stated Bob Harrison, LMC executive dean of Workforce Services and the Bertrand Crossing Campus, in a news release.

Â?With students from Watervliet and Coloma to Sawyer and Michiana and several points in between, the broad extent to which this program will impact the health and safety of our communities is extraordinary,Â? Harrison added.

Todd Gustafson from Michigan Works praised the program for addressing the areaÂ?s need for advanced health care professionals. Â?This is a very exciting time in health care and the need for a highly-trained workforce is great. We have seen labor market projections indicate that by 2012, the health care sector will employ approximately 11.3 percent of the active labor pool in our tri-county region. This is a 16.9 percent increase in demand for trained employees,Â? he added.

Â?This program provides an excellent opportunity for EMTs who desire the training to advance their careers,Â? Fisher said. Â?Medic 1 has a long history of promoting professional development in order to better serve our communitiesÂ? health care needs. The EMT to paramedic program is an ideal example of making this a reality.Â?

Those interested in more information about the EMT to paramedic training program should contact Bob Harrison at (800) 252-1562, ext. 2995.